Li's India visit attracts global attention

Updated: 2013-05-22 07:51

(China Daily)

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Editor's note: Premier Li Keqiang's first visit to India is significant for the two countries, and has attracted wide media attention. Below are reports from some media outlets:

Moving forward

Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India will help the two countries to lay aside differences and strengthen bilateral relations, says an editorial in The Hindu. Excerpts:

Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India was an opportunity for both sides to calm troubled waters and this is evidently what they have tried to do. The decision to "encourage" the two countries' Special Representatives on the boundary question "to push forward the process of negotiations" towards a mutually acceptable settlement will hopefully breathe political life into a process that is at a virtual standstill despite 15 rounds of talks.

Besides dealing with the border issue, both sides seemed to have made the deliberate decision to emphasise the larger strategic and global nature of the relationship. They have added civil nuclear cooperation to the mix, and agreed to enhance cooperation against piracy at sea and other non-traditional threats to maritime security. On trans-border rivers, another problematic area, the two sides have agreed "to further strengthen cooperation" and continue sharing data.

Striving to end border row

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart to make a new push to settle the long-running border row, pledging his commitment to "peace and tranquility", says an article in The Hindustan Times. Excerpts:

While addressing a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in New Delhi on Monday, Singh said: "We've had differences but peace must be preserved on the borders," adding that special measures were needed to build greater confidence between the two nations.

Li said that the border dispute was a historical hangover and that there was a desire on both sides to resolve it.

Earlier, Li pledged to build trust with India and declared that ties between the Asian giants were key to world peace as he visited New Delhi only weeks after a border spat.

Speaking alongside his counterpart Manmohan Singh, Li said China wanted to increase cooperation with India, saying his choice of destination for his first foreign visit showed the importance that Beijing attached to ties with New Delhi.

Emphasis on cooperation

India and China stressed the need for cooperation as the world's two most populous countries, says an article in the Wall Street Journal. Excerpts:

"India and China have a historic opportunity for economic and social development and the realization of this goal will advance peace and prosperity in Asia and the world at large," the two sides said in a statement.

Areas of potential greater cooperation include improving ties between Chinese enterprises and the Indian information-technology industry, the statement said. The two countries are aiming for trade volume of $100 billion by 2015, up from $73.9 billion in 2011.

Many economists say India will achieve trade parity with China only when it develops a more mature manufacturing base.

New strategic partnership

New Delhi thought "very highly" of Mr Li's decision to make India his first foreign stop and the aim of the talks was to "enhance trust", says an article in the BBC. Excerpts:

China's Premier Li Keqiang is traveling to India in the first stop of his maiden foreign trip since taking office. Beijing hopes the visit will help build trust and a new strategic partnership to the benefit of both countries, China's official news agency Xinhua said.

Boosting trade ties is also expected to dominate the talks. China is already one of India's top trading partners and both countries have already agreed a new $100 billion bilateral trade target for 2015.

Significance of neighbors

Li Keqiang's first foreign trip as premier aims to help settle border dispute and boost economic ties with India, said an article by Al-Jazeera based in Qatar. Excerpts:

China's new premier has arrived in India for his first foreign trip as the two Asian countries look to speed up efforts to settle a decades-old border dispute and strengthen economic ties.

China said on Sunday that Li Keqiang's choice of India for his first trip abroad since taking office in March shows the importance the country attaches to improving relations with its western neighbor.

Bhaskar Roy, a New Delhi-based political analyst, said it is very interesting that Li's first stop in his tour is India. "This shows a change in the way of thinking or readjustment of thinking in Beijing," he said. "According to Chinese officials, they are entering a new age of foreign policy or diplomacy, which seeks to encompass neighbors."

Overcome border tensions

India and China pledge to overcome border tensions, says an article from Voice of America. Excerpts:

The leaders of Asian giants India and China say they will take steps to build greater mutual trust a month after a tense dispute over their shared border.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang acknowledged the need to improve various border mechanisms and overcome differences between his country and India. But he placed more emphasis on the global impact of cooperation between the two of the world's emerging superpowers.

Peaceful coexistence

Arriving in India as his first stop of maiden foreign tour, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday that China regards India as an important partner and friend, and it serves their bilateral interests and the world to coexist peacefully, said India Today. Excerpts:

In a written statement issued on his arrival in New Delhi on Sunday afternoon, Li said, "it serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people and is a blessing to Asia and the world at large that China and India coexist peacefully, maintain friendly relations and work together to realize national rejuvenation."

Li expressed confidence that his visit would strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, expand common interests and consolidate bilateral friendship, which would inject new vigor into the China-India strategic and cooperative partnership designed for peace and prosperity.

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